VIDEO: Google Street View commandeers a snowmobile

Google has already used a trike to snap hard to reach places for its Street View photography project, but has now obtained a snowmobile to do the same in snowy climes.

The Vancouver mountains have been captured with the camera-equipped snowmobile gathering imagery at 7000 feet for the online service.

"In time for the Games in Vancouver and Whistler", says Google in a blog post, "we're thrilled to be bringing this view to the world through Street View on Google Maps".

"The view from Whistler Mountain is something everyone should see: a range of rugged mountains, trails of snow, fir trees and placid lakes below", says Google - hit play on the video above for a preview.